Vacuum cleaner for automobiles



Dec. 3 1929; w. L. GRATHWOL 1,738,065

VACUUM CLEANER FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed Feb. 12 1926 INVEN TOR. William'raZ/zwal A TTORNEY Patented Dec. 3, 1929 PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM L..GRATHWOL, F STRATFQRD, CONNECTICUT VACUUM: CLEANER FOR AUTOMOBILESApplication filed February This invention relates to a vacuum cleanerfor automobiles adapted to be Operated by utilization of the engineexhaust, and the broad object of the invention is to produce a vacuumcleaner which willbe an improvement generally over the disclosure ofpatent to Leathers, No. 1,499,937, granted July '1, 1924.

A more specific object is to provide a vaclo uum cleaner of the presentcharacter which is adapted to be directly connected with the mainexhaust line of an engine, and which is provided with mechanism wherebya vacuum may be easily and readily produced in a pipe 16 connection orconduit, or may be just as easily and readily destroye A furtherspecific object is to provide novel, simple,'and improved vacuumproducing mechanism adapted to be automatically 2 manipulated to destroyvacuum in said pipe connection or conduit when the cleaner is out ofuse. 7

With the above objects in view, as well as others which will appear asthe specification proceeds, the invention comprises the construction,arrangement andcombination of parts as now to be'fully described and ashereinafter to be specifically claimed, it being I understood that thedisclosure herein is meretu ly illustrative and meant in no way in alimiting sense, changes in details of construction and arrangement ofparts being permissible so long as within the spirit of the inventionand the scope of the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of an automotive vehicle chassis, disclosing oneof the runnin boards and the exhaust line with muffler, and showing theimproved cleaner associated with said running board and exhaust line;

Fig. 2 is a detail sectional view, the line I 2-2 in Fig. 1 suggestingthe location. of the section, disclosing a vacuum cleaner hoseassociated with the conduit of the cleaner;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged elevational view, partially in section, disclosingan exhaust line, the fitting and conduit or pipe connection of thecleaner, the automotive vehicle running W hoard, and parts associatedwith the parts 12, 1926. Serial No. 87,938.

mentioned, the exhaust shown in full and in dotted lines;

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of the running board plate and the vacuumcontrolling flap, disclosing the flap in the inoperative position of thecleaner;'and

Fig. is a sectional view on line 5-5 in Fig. 3, showing the exhaust gasaccelerator in the operative position of the cleaner.

With respect to the drawing and the characters and numerals of referencethereon, A denotes an automotive vehicle chassis, B the exhaust line ofthe engine of said vehicle, G a mufiler in said exhaust line, D arunning board on said chassis and 10 represents, generally, the vacuumcleaner of the invention, which is, as disclosed, associated with theexhaust line and running board.

Of the vacuum cleaner, 11' is, a fitting secured in the exhaust line.Clearly, the fitting could be secured at the end of the exhaust line. Asshown, the fitting consists of two tightly fitted pieces surrounding theexhaust line and clamped thereon as at 12. One of the pieces 13 of thefitting is a longitudinal part of a tube, while the other piece 14consists of a longitudinal part of a tube having a pocket, cavity, ordepression 15 which is in communication with a hollow pipe 16 adapted toreceive a conduit or pipe connection 17 the conduit or pipe connectionbeing secured to the hollow pipe in any convenient or suitable manner,as indicated at 18.

The end 19 of the conduit or pipe connection 17 spaced from the fitting11 is, for conyenience, preferably secured, as at 20, to the gasaccelerator being Inner face of a vertical part E of the running boardD, although said end 19 could be otherwise situated.

Numeral 21 indicates a plate secured as at 22 upon the outer face ofsaid vertical part E of the running board, said plate 21 having I anopening 23 coinciding with an opening 24 through said verticalpartQwhich opening 24- aligns with theopen end 25 of the conduit 17. 26is a vacuum cleaner hose adapted to be passedthrough the openings 23 and24: and 4 fitted in any preferred manner into said open end 25. I a Thehollow pipe 16 is adapted to be 'nor 'mally covered (when the vacuumcleaner is out of use), to shut ofi communication between the exhaustline and the conduit 17 as by an exhaust gas accelerator 27 fixed upon ashaft 28 rotatably supported in the fitting 11, said accelerator beingdisclosed in Fig. 3 as cutting ofi communication between the pipe 16 andthe exhaust line.

The exhaust gas accelerator is adapted to be normally situated (as infull lines in Fig. 3) so that the normal passage 29 through the fittingis at least as large in diameter as is the assage 30 through the exhaustline next ad- ]acent the fitting (to the right in Fig. 3), and saidaccelerator is adapted to be swung to its dotted line position of Fig. 3(its full line position of Fig. 5) in order that the cleaner mayoperate. For so swinging said accelerator I provide a lever 31 fixedupon said shaft 28, anda link 32 having one of its ends pivoted, as at33, to said lever 31 and its other end'pivoted, as at 34 to an arm 35 ofa lever 36 itself pivoted as at 37 upon the outer end of conduit 17, thelever 36 including a flap 38 adapted to normally cover (when the cleaneris out of use) the openings 23 and 24, and hence cover the open end 25of the conduit 17. See Figs. 1 to 4.

The manner in which the vacuum cleaner functions is obvious. When theparts are as shown in full lines in Fig. 3, the exhaust out let is ofthe same cross-sectional area as is the outlet through the fitting 11,and incidentally, the conduit 17 is out of communication with theexhaust line and the flap 38 is closed. When the parts are as shown indotted lines in Fig. 3, or in full lines in Fig. 5, there iscommunication between the conduit 17 and the exhaust line, and theouter, open end 25 of the conduit is uncovered to receive the cleanerhose. See Fig. 2. At the same time, the exhaust gas outlet through thefitting and past the accelerator 27 is restricted, as indicated at 39.When the passage past the accelerator is'not restricte there is nosuction created in the exhaust line, and incidentally, even if therewere, this could not becommunicated to the conduit 17 for the reasonthat the accelerator closes said conduit. 'But when the passage throughthe fitting is restricted, there is a 'corresponding acceleration in thevelocity of exhaust gases passing through said fittin' adapted to createa suction, and, the conduit 17 now being open to-- the exhaust line,said suction will tend to create a vacuum in said conduit which will besatisfied throu hthe cleaner hose. p

As will e seen, the exhaust gas accelerator when 'in the operativeposition of the cleaner functions after the fashion of a venturi toincreasethe velocit'y'of, the (gases passing from the exhaust gasmanifol 'Any equivalent mechanism can be substituted for the acceleratordisclosed,the idea being to provide a luction in the conduit 17when-this is desired,

or to destroy the suction when the vacuum cleaner is out of use.Clearly, when the accolerator is positioned as in full lines in Fig. 3,there is no vacuumin the exhaust line or fitting 11 adjacent the hollowpipe 16, but the moment the accelerator is swung to the operativeposition of the cleaner, the velocity of exhaust gases rushing throughthe restricted opening through the fitting is greatly increased, toproduce vacuum in and about the pocket, cavity, or depression 15, whichvacuum must be satisfied via the conduit 17 and the cleaner hose, aswill be evident.

When the flap 38 is thrown to open position and the hose 26 is inserted,the flap cannot return to the inoperative position of the cleaner (tocover the conduit 17) but the moment the hose is removed, there will bea return of the flap to its normal location accomplished by the suctionthrough the conduit 17 acting directly upon the flap and by pressureinthe exhaust line acting against the accelerator 27. I Or if preferred,a spring (not shown) may be applied to the flap 38 to return it tonormal position when the cleaner hose is withdrawn, to precludeoperation of the device when use is not intended.

What I claim is:

1. In an automotive vehicle, a passage for exhaust gases, -a conduitadapted to communicate with said passage, manually movable means forrestricting the area of said passage adjacent the mouth of said conduit,and means for closing communication between said conduit and passage.

2. In an automotive vehicle, a normally unobstructed passage for all ofthe exhaust gases from the cylinders of the engine of said vemovablyassociated with said passage to af ford communication between saidconduit and passage, said means normally being situated without saidpassage.

3. In an automotive vehicle, a normally unobstructed passage for exhaustgases, a conduit adapted to communicate with said passage, andmeanscapable of association with sald passage to afford communication betweensaid conduit and passage, said means normally being situated outside ofsaid assage.

4. In an automotive vehicle, in com ination with a normally unobstructedpassage for all of theexhaust gases from the cylinders of the engine ofsaid vehicle, a conduit adapted to communicate with said passage, andmeans adapted to be removably associated with said passage to affordcommunication between said conduit and passage, said means normally beinsituated without said passage.

5. an automotive vehicle, a passage for exhaust gases, a conduit, andmeans for restricting the cross-sectional area of said pasnicationbetween said conduit and passage,

whereby exhaust gases traveling througli'said passage will tend tocreate a vacuum in said till till

conduit.

6. In an automotive "vehicle, a passage for exhaust gases, a conduit,and means for re stricting the cross-sectional area of said passage andfor simultaneously opening communication between said conduit anda-portion of said passage adapted to receive exhaust gases after theyhave passed the restricted area of said passage, whereby to increase thevelocity of exhaust gases traveling through said passage at the mouth ofsaid conduit to thus tend to create a vacuum in said conduit.

7. In an automotive vehicle, a passage for exhaust gases, a conduit, andmeans in said passage adjacent the mouth of said conduit for restrictingthe cross-sectional area of said passage and for simultaneously openingcommunication between said conduit and passage at a location adjacentsaid restricted area and to which said exhaust gases are adapted totravel when past said restricted area.

8. In an automotive vehicle, a passage for exhaust gases, a conduit, anexhaust gas accelerator in said passage adjacent the mouth of saidconduit, and means for manipulating said acceleratorto restrict saidpassage and to simultaneously open communication between said conduitand passage.

9. In an automotive vehicle, a passage for exhaust gases, a conduit, anexhaust gas accelerator in said passage adjacent the mouth of saidconduit, said accelerator being adapted to normally close said conduitfrom said passage, and means for manipulating said accelerator torestrict said passage and to open said conduit. to said passage.

10. In an automotive vehicle, a passage for exhaust gases, a conduit, anexhaust gas accelerator in said passage adjacent the mouth of saidconduit, said accelerator being adapted to normally close said conduit,from said passage, and means for manipulating said accelerator torestrict said passage and to open said conduit to said passage at alocah tion adjacent said restricted area (if said passage and adapted toreceive exhaust gases from said restricted area, whereby to accelcratethe velocity of exhaust gases moving through said passage adjacent themouth of said conduit to thus tend to produce a vacuum in said conduit.

ll. In an automotive vehicle, anexhaust outlet including a passage forexhaust gases and a pocket in said passage, a conduit adapted tocommunicate with said passage, and means in said'poclget normallyclosing said conduit tromsaid passage, said means being adapted to bemanipulated to aiford communication between said "conduit and passageand to simultaneously restrict said passage adjacent said pocketand thelocation of communication between said conduit and passa e.

r 12. 11 an automotive vehicle, an exhaust outlet including a passagefor exhaust gases and a pocket in said passage, a conduit adapted tocommunicate with said passage, an exhaust gas accelerator in saidpocket, and

means for manipulating said accelerator to afford free communicationbetween the con-" between said conduitand exhaust outlet and tosimultaneously restrict the area of said exhaust outlet at a locationadjacent the location of communication between said conduit and outlet.I

14:. In an' automotive vehicle, an exhaust outlet, a conduit adapted tocommunicate therewith, an exhaust gas accelerator between said conduitand exhaust outlet adapted to normally restrict said conduit, and meansfor manipulating said accelerator to afford communication between saidconduit and exhaust outlet and to simultaneously restrict the area ofsaid exhaust outlet at a location adjacent the location of communicationbetween said conduit and outlet.

15. A device of the character described, comprising a fitting adapted tobe secured to the exhaust line of an automotive vehicle engine, aconduit adapted to communicate with said fitting, an exhaust gasaccelerator adapted to normally restrict communication between saidconduit and fitting, and means for causing said accelerator to restrictsaid'fitting and to simultaneously afi'ord communication between saidconduit and fitting.

16. A device of the character described, comprising a fitting having apassage for exaust ases, -a conduit adapted to communicate wlth' saidpassage, an exhaust gas accelerator adapted to normally restrictcommunication between said conduit and passage, and means for adjustingsaid accelerator to afford communication between said conduit andpassage and to simultaneously restrict the cross-sectional area of saidpassage.

17. A device of the character described, comprising a passage includingan exhaust gas outlet, a conduit adapted to communicate with saidpassage, means whereby the travel of exhaust gases through said passagetoward said outlet can create vacuum in said conduit, and other meansfor adjusting said means to position without said passage to remove saidconduit from the effect of the travel of exhaust gases through: saidpassage.

18. A device of the character described, comprising a passage includingan exhaust gas outlet, a conduit adapted to communicate with saidpassage, means whereby the travel 5 of'exhaust gases through saidpassage can create vacuum in said conduit, and other means for'adjustingsaid means to remove said conduit from the efli'ect of the travel ofexhaust gases through said passage.

19. In an automotive vehicle, a passage including an exhaust gas outlet,'a' conduit adapted to communicate with said passage, and meansremovably associated with said passage whereby the travel of exhaustgases through said passage can create vacuum in said conduit, said meansnormally being situated without said passage.

20,. A device of the character described, comprising a member having apassage for exhaust gases, a conduit adapted to communicate with saidmember, and means adapted to be inserted in said passage, to afl'ordcommunication between the conduit and passage tending to create a vacuumin said conduit by etween said conduit and passage adapted to bepositioned to restrict communication between the conduit and: passage,or to open communication between the conduit and passage and restrictthe passage, and means for manipulating said accelerator, said meanscomprising alever fixed to the axis of said accelerator, a link pivotedto said mentioned lever, and a second lever pivoted upon a fixed part ofthe vehicle and towhich the link is pivoted.

22. In an automotive vehicle, an exhaust gas outlet, a fittingassociated with said outet and having a passage for exhaust gases aconduit adapted to communicate with sai passage, the conduit beingsecured upon a fixed part of the vehicle and having an opening adaptedto receive a vacuum hose, a pivoted and adjustable accelerator betweensaid conduit and passage adapted t6 be positioned to restrictcommunication between the conduit and passage, or'to open communicationbetween the conduit and passage and restrict the passage, and means formanipulating said accelerator, said means comprising a lever fixed tothe axis of said accelerator, a link pivoted tosaid mentioned lever anda sec- 0nd lever pivoted upon a fixed partofthe vehicle and to which thelink is pivoted,

reason of the'travel of exhaust gases through said passage, said meansnormally being s1t-- accelerator is in position'to restrictcommunication between said conduit and passa e.

23. The combination as specified in c aim 22, wherein said acceleratoris adapted to automaticall position itself to restrict communicationetween said conduit and passage when said vacuum hose is removed fromsaid conduit.

24.. In an automotive vehicle, an exhaust gas passage, a conduit adaptedto communicate with said passage, the conduit having an opening adaptedto receive a vacuum hose, an accelerator between said conduit andpassage adapted to be positioned to restrict communication between theconduit and passage, or to open communication between the conduit andpassage and restrict the passage, and means for manipulating theaccelerator, said accelerator being adapted to allow communicationbetween the conduit and passage and restrict the passage when saidvacuum hose is in said conduit, and said accelerator manipulating meansbeing adapted to automatically return said accelerator to its positionrestrict-ing communication between the conduit and passage when saidhose is removed from said conduit.

Signed at Bridgeport, in the county of Fairfield and State ofConnecticut, this -1st day of February, A. D. 1926.

WILLIAM L. GRATHWOL.

I said second lever including a flap adapted B5 tocover said conduitopeningwhen said

